Trust

It's been one of those weeks. At the end of the week, I have nothing to say for what I have done.

I started the week feeling extremely blessed by the Lord. I bought a plaque a few months ago that says "In the strength of the Lord, I can do all things." I found this at a time when I REALLY needed to be reminded of that. Sometimes life feels so hard. Reading this every day helped me get through the day, the doctor appointments, the ear infections, the sickness, the fusiness, and the general stress these things create. With the Lord's help, I was able to get through it all, and now that Braden has been well (knock on wood), had ear tubes put in, is so much happier, I feel like the Lord is giving me a little sigh of relief, a little rest. I feel so grateful.

As a little disappointment got me down this weekend, I needed to be reminded of the blessings the Lord gives me. It was timely, because a few days prior I watched this mormon message:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kMToqJ8BaE

Its message is trust in the Lord. Whatever the circumstance may be, when the plans you make for your life don't work out the way you want them to, trust in the Lord's plan. He knows what we need more than we do. He knows what will help us grow and become the people we need to be. Thank goodness I can hand that worry over to the Lord, and know my life is safe in His hands.

Turning One

Braden turned one on May 26th! I can't believe his first year of life has already passed by. Braden has been such a blessing to our family. We always ask ourselves what we ever did without him. We must have been so bored with loads of time on our hands, because he definitely keeps us busy now!

In celebration of his birthday, we drove to St. George and had a birthday party for him. We went to a park where there was lots of water to play with! Here he is playing with his cousin Leera and his daddy in the splash pad.



We also ate birthday cake. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not creative or artistic, so this cake was a big accomplishment for me! Braden really enjoyed it, or rather enjoyed smearing it all over himself and the ground.



Right after a quick catnap (we couldn't keep him awake any more) Braden opened all his presents! Thank you aunts, uncles, and Nana for the amazing presents!


We ended up driving home on the 26th in order to miss the Memorial Day traffic from the day before, so as soon as we arrived home, we headed over to the nearby mall for some fun! There is a puppy store there, and Braden loves to watch those puppies, so we did that first. Then, we took him over to the little rides, and he had the time of his life playing on them. All the while, I made him wear his birthday hat, and he actually kept it on after I insisted over and over that he wear it!


After a long day of fun, it just feels good to go diggin'

Braden, please don't grow anymore. I like you just the way you are!

Surgery

Last Wednesday, Braden went on his first adventurous trip to the Operating Room. I had been sick to my stomach for about a month in anticipation of it all. But, we made it, and here he is in pre-op.

He went in to have ear tubes put in his ears after tirelessly fighting ear infection after ear infection since December. What a brave boy he was, because he went with the doctors as happy as could be (although this could be due to the meds they gave him) and even helped the nurse put on his oxygen mask.

After the surgery was done, Braden's amazing eye doctors (retina specialists) did a test on his eyes to see if his retinas are what is causing his Nystagmus. They confirmed that there is some degree of abnormality in the cones and rods of the retinas, and that is what is causing the Nystagmus. Time will tell how well he can see. There is no treatment at this time for these abnormalities, but a lot of research is being done in that area, so there may be treatment in the future. They are certain it is a genetic condition, so they are trying to find out what gene causes the abnormality.

As he woke up, he wanted to hold his oxygen mask again. Braden, we are so proud to be your parents, and are so lucky to have you as our boy. We love you and are glad you have these doctors in your life to help you with your challenges.

Earthquakes

On Sunday at about 8:30 pm, I was sitting in a friends home at a meeting, when a 4.7 eathquake shook her apartment. About a millisecond later, Brian called and asked if everything was ok. Braden was crying in the background because Brian had grabbed him so quickly to take him under the table that he got quite scared! The women I was with laughed because their husbands didn't call. They are probably just more used to eathquakes than we are ;)

Today, about 10 minutes ago, around 4 pm, we just had another earthquake. This time a 4.1. Braden was and is still napping. I was napping and jumped up to make sure it wasn't going to get bigger than the quick shake that it was. It didn't, thank goodness. Now this might just be the worrier in me, but two earthquakes since Sunday? I am double checking my 72 hour kit tonight to make sure it is fully stocked!